What Went Wrong Between Elon Musk and Donald Trump?

Elon Musk’s alliance with Donald Trump looked unusually solid for two people with massive egos and different fan bases. The billionaire tech CEO stepped into a key government role, backed Trump with nearly $300 million, and even got a presidential lawn display of Teslas.

But the high-profile partnership is now cracking. Behind the scenes, there is frustration, rivalry, and political tension. Here’s how the so-called “bromance” started to unravel.

Elon Musk called Trump’s new federal spending bill “a disgusting abomination.” That post alone got more attention than the bill itself. Musk’s rant came just days after he officially left the White House as a special adviser. The timing was not lost on political watchers.

US Weekly / IG / The relationship between Trump and Musk ruptured in real time when the Tesla boss called the president’s new federal bill a “disgusting abomination.”

Musk had been leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, pushing hard for budget cuts and firings. Watching a bill filled with expensive projects pass anyway probably felt like a personal defeat.

The EV Tax Break

One of the loudest fights between Musk and Trump centered on electric car subsidies. Trump’s bill quietly removed a $7,500 tax credit that had helped Tesla stay competitive. Elon Musk reportedly lobbied hard behind the scenes to keep it in place.

The decision stung more than usual. Musk saw it as a direct hit to Tesla, especially after already dealing with a wave of backlash over his ties to Trump. First-quarter profits at Tesla dropped 71 percent, and this policy shift made recovery harder.

Back in March, Trump tried to show public support by turning the White House lawn into a mini Tesla showroom. It was a made-for-TV moment meant.

Concerns about SpaceX and Trump’s Missile Plan

Musk’s SpaceX got caught up in more political trouble when rumors spread that it would be involved in Trump’s anti-missile defense project, called the Golden Dome. Forty-two Democrats raised alarms over that link, writing a letter to the Pentagon.

This controversy added more stress to an already fragile working relationship. Musk’s companies were seen as potentially benefiting too much from insider access, which led to louder ethics complaints.

Elon Musk Didn’t Want to Leave the Job

Musk had accepted a 130-day position as a special government employee, heading a department focused on cutting federal waste. That time ran out. But according to Axios, Musk didn’t want to go.

He tried to stay on, but a deal couldn’t be reached. Several members of Trump’s team were reportedly done dealing with his outbursts and clashes. His aggressive push for sweeping changes had made him both effective and unpopular inside the West Wing.

ABC News / IG / According to reports, Musk pushed for Starlink, his satellite internet company, to be used for air traffic control. The idea wasn’t well-received.

The FAA rejected it for technical and legal reasons, and some called it a clear conflict of interest.

The backlash didn’t stop Musk. He kept pushing, and that added more strain to his relationship with Trump’s Cabinet. According to reports, senior officials felt Musk was mixing personal business with public responsibilities too often.

NASA Nomination Fallout

Trump had picked Jared Isaacman, a Musk ally and private astronaut, to run NASA. But just as quickly, he dropped the nomination. That move shocked both Musk and Isaacman, and made many wonder what changed.

Sources said Sergio Gor, a top personnel official, pushed Trump to reverse course. Gor and Musk reportedly didn’t get along, so the Isaacman decision looked personal. Others blamed Isaacman’s past donations to Democrats, but it still looked like a shot at Musk.